Prof. Yasinta Charles Muzanila (PhD)

Yasinta Charles Muzanila (PhD)

Associate Professor

Telephone: +255 754 265 712

E-mail: muzanila@sua.ac.tz

 

Prof. Yasinta Charles Muzanila is an Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Department of Biosciences. Muzanila studied at The University of Reading, UK, where she obtained her Master of Science Degree and Ph.D. in the field of Food Science and Technology. She has wide experience in Food Science and Nutrition Research. Her main research area is in food processing and postharvest technologies in roots and tubers, fruits, and vegetables. She had also worked on Aflatoxins in cereals and groundnuts. In nutrition, she is interested in complementary feeding, mainly using cereals and legumes. Muzanila has led various research projects including; the Development of High Nutritive Formulae based on Solar Dried Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato for Children infected/affected with HIV/AIDs in Muheza District, funded by Rapid Funding Envelope (RFE)  (2005), Enhancing child nutrition and livelihoods of rural households in Malawi and Tanzania through post-harvest value-chain technology improvements in groundnuts, funded by the McKnight Foundation (2009) and a PEER Programme Research Project on “Enhancing Postharvest Technologies and Food Safety Innovations in Fresh Tomato Values Chain” Funded by The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) (2019).

 

Selected publications

  1. Muzanila, Y.C. and  M. Natai, (2002). Processed weaning foods based on Sweet potato and Cassava. International  Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition. 52(1):205-211.
  2. Muzanila, Y.C. and Senge,  S.  (2002).Preservation of potatoes by sun-drying. Tanzania Journal of Agricultural Sciences.  5(2): 167-174.
  3. Muzanila Y. C., J.G. Brennan, R.D. King and D. B. MacDougall (2008). Effects of Emulsifiers on Sensory Acceptability of Cassava Flakes. Tropical Science. 48(3):124-127.
  4. Laswai, H.S, Mosha, T.C.E, Banadda, E.N. and Muzanila, Y.C. (2013). Use of small grains and rice husks as physical control measures for post-harvest maize losses during storage. LISHE. Tanzania Food and Nutrition Journal Volume 13 (1), P. 40-45.
  5. Lyimo, M., and Muzanila Y. C. (2014). Assessment of Complementary Foods and Child Feeding Practices in Dodoma Region, Tanzania. Journal of Continuing Education and Extension.  Vol. 5(1). Pp.529-544.
  6. Mariam K. Mtunguja, Maysaya Thitisaksakul, Yasinta C. Muzanila,    Rungtiva  Wansuksri, Kuakoon Piyachomkwan, Henry S. Laswai, Guihua Chen, Charles F. Shoemarker, Neelima Sinha and Diana M Buckles (2016). Assessing variation in physicochemical, structural, and functional properties of root starches from novel Tanzanian cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) landraces. Starke/Starch 68: 1-14.
  7. Mariam K. Mtunguja , Henry S.  Laswai,  Yasinta C.  Muzanila, and Joseph Ndunguru (2017).  Improved Food Security and Alleviation of Cyanide Intoxication through Commercialization and Utilization of Cassava Starch by Tanzania Industries. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. International Journal of Nutrition and Food Engineering. Vol. 4, No. 3.
  8. Anitha Seetha, Wills Munthali, Yasinta Muzanila, Elirehema Swai and Patrick Okori, (2017).Occurrence of aflatoxins and their management in diverse cropping systems of central Tanzania. Mycotoxin Research 33(4). DOI 10.1007/s12550-017-0286-x.
  9. Seetha Anitha, Yasinta Muzanila, Takuji W. Tsusaka, Lizzie Kachulu, Nelson Kumwenda, Mike Musoke, Elirehema Swai, Jackson Shija, Moses Siambi, Emmanuel S. Monyo, Mateete Bekunda and Patric Okori (2020). Reducing Child Undernutrition through Dietary Diversification, Reduced Aflatoxin Exposure and Improved Hygiene Practices: Immediate Impacts in Central Tanzania. Ecol Food Nutr 259(3):243-262. Epub 2019 Nov 28. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2019.1691000
  10. Monica Chande, Happiness Muhimbula, Ruth Mremi, Yasinta Muzanila, Nelson Kumwenda, John Msuya, Harry Msere, Mateete Bekunda, Patrick Okori, Wanjiku N Gichohi-Wainaina  (2021). Drivers of Millet Consumption Among School Aged Children in Central Tanzania”. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, section Nutrition and Sustainable Diets. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.694160.
  11. Wanjiku N Gichohi-Wainaina,  Ruth Mremi, Monica Chande,, John Msuya,   Nelson Kumwenda, Yasinta Muzanila, Harry Msere, Happiness Muhimbula,  Mateete Bekunda and Patrick Okori. (2022). Drivers of Pigeon Pea Consumption Among School-Aged Children in Central Tanzania. Front. Sustain. Food Syst., https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.726404.